New York, February 17, 2026, 07:42 EST — Premarket
- MARA slipped about 1.5% in premarket trade after jumping more than 9% in the last regular session.
- Bitcoin was lower near $68,000, keeping crypto-linked shares in focus as U.S. markets reopen after a holiday.
- Traders are watching Friday’s U.S. PCE inflation data for cues on rates and risk appetite.
MARA Holdings (MARA) fell about 1.5% to $7.80 in premarket trading on Tuesday, trimming gains after the bitcoin miner jumped more than 9% in the last regular session. (MarketWatch)
The stock is back in play after U.S. equity markets were closed on Monday for President’s Day, leaving investors to digest a long weekend before the opening bell. (Nasdaqtrader)
U.S. stock index futures edged lower as investors weighed anxiety about AI-driven disruption and a packed week of economic data. “We continue to see the AI disruption trade as a rotation theme, rather than a risk-off,” Mohit Kumar, economist at Jefferies, wrote, with traders also focused on Friday’s personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index, the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge. (Reuters)
Bitcoin was down about 1.7% at roughly $68,169, after a choppy stretch that has kept volatility elevated across crypto markets.
Other U.S.-listed bitcoin miners moved sharply in the last session as well. Riot Platforms was last up about 7% and CleanSpark gained roughly 6%, underscoring how the group can swing harder than the token itself.
MARA runs large-scale computing infrastructure and mines bitcoin, a model that tends to tie its day-to-day stock moves to crypto prices and broader risk sentiment. (Reuters)
That matters now because miners often trade like a leveraged bet on bitcoin: they can jump on rebounds, but they can also unravel fast when the tape turns sour or liquidity thins.
But the leverage cuts both ways. If bitcoin extends its slide or equity markets widen their pullback in high-volatility names, miners can give back gains quickly — and premarket moves can flip once regular trading starts.
MARA’s investor relations calendar did not list any upcoming events, leaving traders looking mainly to macro cues and the crypto market’s next move rather than a near-term company date. (MARA)
Outside crypto, global markets have been jumpy about a deeper selloff in AI-heavy stocks and the knock-on effects across sectors. “The markets are taking each sector one-by-one and stress testing their business models,” Axel Botte, head of market strategy at Ostrum Asset Management, said. (Reuters)
For MARA, the next clean catalyst is Friday’s PCE inflation report — and any reaction in bitcoin around the $70,000 level, which has become a common reference point for traders heading into the week.
